Guilin Chongshan Mosque

Guilin Attractions

Chongshan Mosque is an ancient Chinese Islam mosque. According to the record of history documents, Chongshan Mosque was built in the late reign of Yongzheng Emperor in Qing Dynasty (1735 A.D.), later, during the reign of Jiaqing and Daoguang emperor, and In Republic Period, it also been expand and rebuilt.

At present, Chongshan Street mosque covers an area of 2000 square meters, as the best preserved mosque with the largest scale in Guilin. A full set of architecture, including transept, the prayer hall, lecture hall, water houses and so on. The Arabic on the left side of the transept means Allah is the greatest and most respected, and those on the right side means to open the door of auspiciousness and kindness. 24 red pillars surround the prayer hall, making it simple but solemn. A large inscribed board with Arabic is hung in the upper room of the outer house. Antithetical couplets are pasted on the golden pillars on both sides.

The whole building consists of corridor, prayer hall, main hall, bath room. On the both side of corridor, lined with Arabic writing of " Allah, open the door of felicity and amiability and "Allah is the greatest and most distinguished master of the world". Above the main entrance hall there is a giant plaque that read in Arabic "Shahada."

The prayer hall of Guilin Chongshan Street Mosque is very spacious, with 12 red wooden pillars orderly arranged. Up is an octagonal dome, and beautiful relief of episode of Koran is carved on the wall of the kiln.

The courtyard is small; the use of cross gallery make the prayer hall seemed more spacious. This Mosque is a large and intact-preserved mosque, it is also been listed as key units of historical and cultural sites under government protection in Guilin.